Group IV Project

Overview The group IV project is an interdisciplinary and collaborative project in which all IB Diploma Programme science students must participate. “Students work together on a scientific or technological topic, allowing for concepts and perceptions from across the disciplines to be shared in line with aim 10: “to develop an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines and their influence on other areas of knowledge.” -Biology Guide First Assessment 2016

It allows students to appreciate and share the environmental, social, and ethical implications of science and technology. It allows students to gain an understanding of the limitations of scientific study, for example, the shortage of appropriate data and/or the lack of resources. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary cooperation and the processes involved in scientific investigation, rather than the products of such investigation. -Biology Guide First Assessment 2016

Some possible topics include: Pollution (Done in the past) Effect of Urbanization Water Quality Waste/Waste Reduction Biodiversity School Safety Myth Busters Drugs and Medicine Healthy Bodies Toys and Recreation Invasive species

What does a Group IV project look like? One school that offered courses in Biology and Environmental Systems studied a nearby lake and the surrounding area. The students were told that they could choose “any kind of investigation that can be performed on a water body, the land around it, and the materials that flow into or out of it, or is relevant to its history or future”..  

Investigations that were suggested under this umbrella included: Field investigations of water quality and comparison to other water bodies Biological sampling of types of native and/or exotic species that were present Examination of soil samples from around the lake to characterize the soil types and measure soil properties Historical research of the lake and report on what’s been happening with respect to its past and present use Investigation of land use and population dynamics of the area and finding connections between use/and or population density and environmental health

Refer to student handout as necessary.

The choice of project is left up to you and your imagination The choice of project is left up to you and your imagination. It can include theoretical or hands-on components; lab or field work; examining data from scientific journals or environmental organizations; or developing and using a model or simulation. The project must be interdisciplinary and a group effort. It must consider environmental, social (may involve a historical aspect), and ethical aspects as well as scientific ones.  HOWEVER, IT MUST INCLUDE DATA. This data could be from a data bank or data you collected. In other words, it needs to be an investigation- Pick a problem and conduct an investigation to find a solution

Timeframe: Ten hours are allocated for the Group IV Project. These hours are divided into 3 stages: planning, action, and evaluation.  

:Planning 2 hours roughly (3 class days) Instructors will introduce the Group IV Project to all students in the Group IV Sciences (Purpose, Stages, Time Line, Rubric, and Samples (as time permits) of Projects- to demonstrate how the project is interdisciplinary and collaborative in nature). A brief discussion of aims 7, 8, and 10 will take place. (Aims are listed at end of this document). Students will be assigned their groups.

Day 2: Brainstorm ideas for Group IV Project (as a group). This would be to come up with the overall topic for the project. Divide into your smaller groups. Decide on group leaders who will communicate with other group leaders about the “umbrella” project. Plan within the smaller groups regarding nature of sub-project. The activities to be carried out must be clearly defined before moving from the planning stage to the action and evaluation stages. A proposal worksheet is to be completed by each group identifying the purpose of their investigation, how it will be conducted, and how it relates to the umbrella project. This is to be submitted by ……

Day 3: Complete the planning stage. It will be necessary for the smaller groups to meet as a larger group before beginning the action phase.

Action : 6 hours Day 1 - 5 The action phase will take place during five class days. There should be collaboration during the action stage; findings of investigations should be shared with other members in the group. Students should pay attention to safety concerns and ethical and environmental issues. Also keep in mind the limitations and problems that can be experienced (such as appropriate data/shortage of resources, etc.) as you conduct a scientific study.

Evaluation: 2 hours (approximately) Presentation Dates: ……. Students will share their findings, both successes and failures, with other students. This will be accomplished by slide presentations by each of the three subgroups. The presentations will be approximately 20 minutes in length. Students will be assessed on the personal skills criterion as is found in the rubric provided. Each student will also be required to keep a personal log/diary of each day’s accomplishments (successes, short-comings or problems, tasks accomplished, suggestions for next day’s tasks, etc).This is to be submitted to the instructor on the day PRIOR to the first day of presentations. NOTE: This is a major part of your evaluation. Write in your journal daily. Do not be superficial. Peer evaluations will also be conducted (forms to be provided by instructor).

AIMS:. The experimental science courses have ten stated aims AIMS: The experimental science courses have ten stated aims. Aim numbers 7, 8, and 10 should be addressed by the Group IV Project: Aim 7: Develop and apply 21st century communication skills in the study of science. information and communication technology skills in the study of science. (Examples could include the use of data loggers, spreadsheets, data bases, presentation software, web sites, and digital video). Aim 8: Become critically aware, as global citizens, of the ethical implications of using science and technology Aim 10: develop an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines and their influence on other areas of knowledge.